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CNS moving forward in UPF project

Posted: Wednesday, May 9, 2018, 8:45 am

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The Uranium Processing Facility project at the Y-12 National Security Complex recently achieved major milestones that are propelling the project into its next phase of nuclear facility construction. About 400 skilled craft employees and professional services personnel will join the project in the next few months as part of the first wave in construction hiring.

“The go-ahead to begin construction on the three main facilities is a significant step forward for the project,” said UPF Project Director John Howanitz. “Now that we’ve received authorization to proceed, construction activity will increase dramatically and the skyline of Y-12 will truly begin changing in the coming months.”

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, the managing and operating contractor for the Y-12 site, was recently granted approval by the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to begin nuclear construction on the Main Process Building (MPB), Salvage and Accountability Building (SAB), and Process Support Facilities (PSF) subprojects. Following the first wave, the project will continue hiring to a peak of around 900 skilled craft employees and 1,000 professional services personnel.

“Together with NNSA, we have already achieved significant progress in preparing the site,” said Howanitz. “The project will dramatically increase in activity with more personnel, delivery vehicles, and material movements.”

The UPF project is being built through a series of seven subprojects with the first two completed on time and under budget. The most recent subproject, Site Infrastructure and Services, included completion of a concrete batch plant, utility work, site grading, and completion of a 65,000 square-foot, LEED Gold Certified Construction Support Building. Bechtel National, Inc., leads construction through a principle subcontract with CNS.

The facilities are being constructed for the Department of Energy’s NNSA as part of the effort to modernize the Y-12 National Security Complex. UPF will replace a World War II era plant with a modern, more efficient, and safer facility for conducting highly-enriched uranium operations. The site is a key component in the country’s nuclear security enterprise. UPF will be completed by the end of 2025.